It’s always tricky trying to figure out how much of my work to share here before it’s done. I don’t share the opinion of my many publishers that everything needs to be shrouded in secrecy to avoid spoiling the suprise of the big reveal. Personally I think it’s pretty interesting to see a project build and gain some insight into the development process. Nor am I convinced that sharing a design in progress is necessarily marketing suicide, nothing wrong with building some interest.
However there are things that make me hesitate, there’s the long delay between initially working on a design and the final pattern being released. It’s nice and motivating to get “I want to knit this NOW, when will the pattern be released?” messages, but often seems like people don’t really get the time and work involved. Sometimes a design just doesn’t work out despite looking perfectly appealing in the pictures which is sure to lead to disappointing knitters. I don’t like disappointing you, but nor do I like trying to make a design I’m over into a pattern.
So, that said, given the choice between a silent blog and sharing what I’m working on, I know what I prefer. Just please remember that there’s a lot of work to go before you’ll see the end result – I do hope it will be worth waiting patiently for. I spent most of last year working on smaller projects for the two Whimsical Little Knits books, which was great fun, but left me wanting to work on some bigger designs and put what I learned about self publishing into an altogether larger project. And so, for the last few months I’ve slowly been working on a collection of garment and coordinating accessory patterns. Alongside the patterns I’m planning on including more text than the first two books, tutorials on fitting and particular techniques and more of the stories of the designs. I’ll be self publishing the book, but I’m very excited not to be doing absolutely everything myself this time, there are some wonderful people helping.
Some of the samples are already done and the other day Sarah helped me pick out the remaining yarns that will be featured, so much fun. The rest of the photos in this post are of the cardigan currently on my needles. It might be more efficient to hire sample knitters, but it wouldn’t suit the way I work at all. I need to be able to rip and re-work things, although I’d prefer if I didn’t always have to do so as much as I have with this. I’ll have knit it about 4 times over by the time it’s done.
I’d love to share more of my process of putting this project together, so if there’s any aspect of my design process you’d particularly like to see, please do speak up.
{ 148 comments… read them below or add one }
Ooh! I am so excited! I was just talking to a friend of mine and we were hoping for another book from you sometime in the future–and then I checked your blog this morning to see this! Rest assured that we can wait (sometimes we’re impatient, but we DO understand the time and effort that goes into designing…which is why we prefer paying for the brilliance of other people). Looking forward to the preorder option!
It looks stunning, love the leaf design round the neck line.
I have designed socks and hat and gloves, all basic stuff, but I have no idea how to start designing a garment.
I mean gloves and socks are sort of, well, standard really, just put on to them what you will. But there are so many shapes and styles with a garment.
What comes first, the shape, the construction or a stitch idea?
What a great post! It’s terrific to get the insight into how a design comes together.
Hope you come back stateside to tour with the book again when it’s done!!
dude, it’s very cool of you to share the early stages of your pattern development. just think how impatient the impatient people will be when this is finally released, and watch your book fly off the shelves…
Thanks for sharing this. While I understand that it is not always possible to reveal the entire process of creating a garment every time, it is a very nice thing to see. I really like the way it builds up the story of a piece in my imagination – I think that is one reason a lot of people enjoy making clothing – because it becomes more than just clothing. This sweater looks so beautiful! I am looking forward to the new book – it sounds like it will be worth the wait!
How exciting! If this first glimpse is anywhere near what the final product looks like, I know it will be worth the wait! I will be one of the first in line to pre-order your new book. Thank you for sharing the progress with us…I always love reading your blog and was very excited to see this entry.
omg. love. this. i love that the leaf is purls, too. i can’t wait to see it finished!!!
The leaf design is beautiful, especially the border stitch, I’m guessing it’s ktbl, but not sure…
It’s so nice of you that you are sharing your work in progress, and I think ALL of us prefer snippets of things that will take a while to be finished rather than silence. When there’s no new Ysolda posts for a while, I personally go back to the archives to satisfy my quench… It’s always such a delight to read you and look at your photos! And really, for those impatient ones, there are so many Ysolda patterns out there, and they’re great fun to make forthe first time as well as to revisit!
Enjoy your process, have fun and give us a peek every once in a while ;)
I love the color and the design! I’m always interested in hearing about your design process. The tidbits of things-in-progress just makes me want to knit it all the more once you’ve released the patterns. Thanks for sharing!
This cardigan looks glorious – I will be excited (but not, I hope, too impatient!) to see its completion. Similarly exciting is news of a collection of larger-scale knits: perhaps some of the many sweaters’ worth of yarn in my stash will finally find a home!
Ysolda, you never cease to amaze! The sweater looks gorgeous! Good luck with the process and I am so happy to hear there is another book in the works!
Thanks for sharing this sweater, it’s lovely. What kind of yarn are you working with here?
The yarn is Manos Silk blend – it’s really lovely :)
Thanks for sharing with us! I love the leaf lace motif and the colour is gorgeous.
I love it already! And I’ll be waiting – patiently – for the pattern to come out :)
That leafy yoke is so, so lovely! I really enjoy seeing progress photos of knitting and sewing projects—both inspiring and instructive. And of course the anticipation is enjoyable too. I can be patient. :}
That cardigan is so pretty! And I’m really excited at the prospect of a larger-scale Ysolda book to look forward to!
Ooh! It looks so lovely! I can’t wait for the new book. :)
p.s. Just wanted to add the Ysolda group over on Ravelry is my favorite group – I click on it several times a day and there are always new FOs to be seen – people are just enjoying making your stuff so much!
Ysolda, you are so generous to share this with us. Pardon us for being impatient. The cardigan looks gorgeous. I am curious to know your design process order, do you sketch out the design first, then do the math then knit swatches etc etc? thanks again and am looking forward to your next designs
Oh my goodness, I am so excited about your new collection! That blue sweater is so lovely. As usual, I will be buying it as soon as it is available. (In PDF and book format if available!)
I love seeing seeing the sketch portion of the design process. I like to see where the idea for the sweater came from. If I were feeling greedy, I’d say I like to see the entire process since I’m starting to dip my toes into designing for myself and am unsure of how to go about it.
That’s exciting! I can’t wait to see all the beautiful things you’ll put in that book. I sincerely love your work. I want to be Ysolda when I grow up. ;)
I love the photo of Sarah among all the knitting stuff. Is that also a hand-knit cardigan she’s wearing?
I’m really looking forward to your book – sounds great with some extra text and tutorials and that blue cardigan is gorgeous – but I will be waiting patiently as I already have too much to knit at the moment, and sure do understand that such things take time. You don’t want to publish something not quite finished, now do you? Good luck and have fun with your work :)
That looks lovely. I like having glimpses of what is coming. I enjoy the anticipation, so thank you for sharing!
I would enjoy hearing about your creative process. Not so much the nuts and bolts of how to design, but what inspires you, what catches your eye and imagination, and how you translate that spark into an idea.
The upcoming designs look tantalizing! Can’t wait to see what you have come up with.
I’d be interested in seeing the visual inspiration you use for your work. Do you have an inspiration board? Do you collect images or sketch things and keep those posted somewhere for ideas?
I really like the look of those leaves, as well as the colour.
This is exactly why I want to read designers’ blogs. I want to be able to see and understand how a design develops, how it changes over time, how obstacles are surmounted, what alterations are made. The process and background of a design fascinate me.
More posts like this please!
Look absolutely lovely so far!! Looking forward too seeing how it ends up! :)
Cant wait to see the new pattern….
I agree with you on the secrecy thing — I love hearing what’s coming up with other designers and I love sharing my ideas as I go. Sometimes it inspires me to do that last frog and reknit if the comments tell me people will want to knit the thing! That said, I’m glad to hear I”m not the only one out there who knits and rips a few times before it all works out…. It looks lovely so far, and I hope you’ll keep sharing,
thea
What a beautiful design! Love at first sight :) This one I look forward to knitting when time comes! Thank you for sharing the process!
I do want to knit that right now. so get going! you’re amazing – not many designers self publish books! I’m very impressed!
I like a bit of text alongside patterns, especially if it’s about where they came from! Pleased to hear you’re planning another book, there’s something very satisfying about books by designers whose patterns you love..
thank you so much for sharing and i look forward to the new patterns!! and i am so glad that you plan on sharing about how you fit things and such. thanks again.
Wow, what a gorgeous cardi! I love everything – the colour, the yarn, the leaf pattern… Simple yet sophisticated!
Considering how it’s almost finished, it seems that it WILL reach completion… When you’ll finish this book, I’ll jump on it! This cardi might be one of the first things I put on my needles… And no worries about how long it takes you, I’m very very patient ;)
About what you said on what to show and what not to, I really understand you, it’s the same thing for illustrators and writers and this matter comes often in my chatting sessions with my friends in this field. Not simple at all… Some even protect their pictures heavily and deleted them when they think it is not representative of their current work.
I do understand that you put lots of thought and work on your patterns, and that’s why they are so pretty, easy but refined as I said earlier. Of course you must not hurry for selfish fans ;) Of course you must not publish something you aren’t completely satisfied with! If some people are disgruntled, tell them off (be flattered too) and go on with YOUR ideas: it is your best guide!
Now, I let you, I’m going on a quest for Manos Silk Blend: I MUST get my grubby paws on it ;)
Oh, before I go on that yarn spree, I remembered that I forgot to speak about what I would like to see in your designing : the very first moments of a design. How do you get the ideas? Do you sketch? What’s inspiring you: is it the yarn or small details you caught here and there?
I have not met a pattern of yours that I didn’t love and worth any wait.
I would love to know how you decide how things go together. I know a little vague. How about how you get the yarn and the pattern together. I have a wonderful yarn from Rhinebeck but it is 100% alpaca and so far I can not make anything work.
Very cute yoke on that cardigan! I definitely appreciate in-progress shots & discussion of design, and it sure seems to work for Anne Hanson. By the time she’s releasing her patterns they are firmly stuck in my imagination, whereas with things in Knitty, for example, I’m entirely likely to look at them once and forget about them if they don’t immediately grab me. I often find myself remembering one of Anne’s patterns years later when I acquire a yarn that seems to call out for it, even if the pattern didn’t arrest my attention when it was first released.
That’s a beautiful new design. Thank you for sharing insight into your design process.
The new book sounds amazing, too!
PRETTY!!! I like to witness the unfolding of a project, it’s like a good mystery, a really good one. I enjoy hearing your inspiration, the trials & error, and reasoning behind details/stitch/yarn choice. You need not feel rushed, as you have provided lots of projects in WLK I & II to keep us busy & happy!
best.
What a great start to this knit. I love the leaf design. good luck on the new book.
Beautiful.
I absolutely love when designers share the process. I feel like most of us go into design flying blind and knowing what other people do, and what helps them is such a great thing. I remember being inspired some years back by a series of process posts on Neoknits. I’d love to see more about your workflow!
I love seeing the progress pictures, both of designs and when bloggers are knitting other people’s patterns. If you wanted to show more of your design process I would be interested to know how you start the process. Looking forward to seeing more of your work!
You grab our interest, so it’s a wonderful idea to share the project steps. We, the knitters, were missing you! Your enthousiasm in your work is so inspiring… keep that! We need it! …and i look forward for that pattern!
It is so great to hear from you again!!!
love the pin curls! can’t wait to see your newest creations, as always :)
Good news about the new book! Re: the design process, I’d also like to know about your inspirations – I’m very interested in other people’s creative thought processes, where they get their ideas from (and if they’re as haphazard as mine!). Although, if there’s going to be more text in your new book, perhaps you’ll be including more of this kind of thing too?
I appreciate getting to see what you’re working on. Plus, having to wait will give me some time to get the other patterns of yours that I’ve already bought done. I am invigorated to knit up Matilda and Vine Yoke, so that I will be ready to knit this new one. I have been thinking about how much I need a feminine summer cardi with that kind of neckline and waist-line ribbing. I also really appreciate that you don’t use test knitters as your patterns actually work out. There’s no fudging in your designs. Thank you thank you thank you thank you.
It looks beautiful. How do you pick a construction? Is it different every time depending on the item or do you favor top-down, bottom-up? A particular sleeve treatment?
I love seeing this work in progress and will be waiting to buy your new book as soon as it is available for pre-sale. What a great sweater. I am almost finished the vine yoke cardigan and already planning to knit a second.
Hi Ysolda
Since you asked, I am curious about sizing as part of the design process. How do you modify a design for different sizes, especially when it contains a repeatable element like your leaf in the example you’ve shown here? Is sizing something you think about at the beginning of the design process, or do you just design something beautiful and then worry about making other sizes later?
Thanks!
Wow! I can’t wait for this. I love all your work, and to top it off, when I met you, you were so nice! I wish you success, and you should know that no matter if you show WIPs on the blog or not, I’ll be a loyal customer. I’m so excited for this new collection!
yay, a top dow cardigan :-)
I enjoy seeing your designs in progress! I’m so glad you share them, and I will be first in line for your next book!
One of my favorite things in fashion is seeing design sketches. I love seeing the designers idea put to paper and then seeing how that translates into the object.
I love it! And I’m a big fan of the sneak peek. It is great to get an insight into the process, and to have a new cardigan to fantasize about!
The cardi is *lovely* — I’m excited to see what else you come up with!
The yoke on that cardi is the most adorable thing I’ve ever seen.
I share your dilemma about how much to share ahead of time. Pacing is so difficult. I think you do a great job!
Wow, I love knitting up and down and your cardigan looks very nice. Coming soon??
Wow – that is gorgeous! I am a fan of the sneak peak, I do love to see the process of making and creating.
Beautiful! I’m super excited about the new patterns that are on their way! Thank you so much for sharing with us. Anticipation is a very important thing, and it’s nice to have a little glimpse of what’s in the works.
Oh, that sweater looks soo pretty! I prefer these little glimpses of designs and then wait until you have the pattern ready… now I’ll wait for the new book!
Yes! I would like to know how you select the yarn that you choose for your projects, color, texture, etc all those aspects that still I quite do not master/understand since I’m a beginner. I’m very intrigue by the act of selecting the yarn. Is it the yarn inspiring the project or vice versa?
Whether it will work or not, it looks beautiful right now. :)
Can’t wait for the new book!
I love the idea of peaking through someone else’s sketch book, and I would be interested to see the very first sketch of this design, or any others.
Omg! Another beauty, I love that you let us see what is coming. I adore the yoke so far.
I know this is a knitting blog rather than a hairstyle blog… but I have to say I LOVE the new hair! Oh and the cardigan is cool :)
Based on what I can see so far, that’s going to be a lovely cardigan.
Also: PINCURLS!
I can’t wait to see what all you come up with for your next book! :)
Wow, that is gorgeous. One aspect of the design process I’m interested in, especially for patterns that are released on a large scale, is the technical aspects of resizing patterns for a wide range of sizes. I don’t want to make you give away your trade secrets, but part of the reason your patterns are so great is the widely varied size range they come in, more than any other designer I’ve seen. Is it about picking simple shapes, like raglans/yokes, or do you have some is crazy mathematical formula? (I seem to recall Grumperina busting out a calculus book once..) Thanks, I love seeing posts like this.
I’d love to see your early sketches and hear more about sources of design inspiration. And thanks so much for sharing these – I’ve always wished for exactly that kind of behind-the-scenes look at the design process from fave designers.
As a fan, I love the peek inside your brain and design process. Worse comes to worse, I’d rather hear that something that looked promising was a false lead, than to not hear from you in two weeks. Also, the more I love a pattern, the more I like to anticipate it being available. Very much looking forward to your tutorials and stories too. So, no pressure, but I can’t wait. Seriously, no pressure.
I’m with you – I don’t get the fuss about the surprise aspect of publishing. I love seeing the process and how things develop. And I’m just horrible about keeping secrets! I’d also love to hear about how you go about grading your patterns.
It is looking great; definitely something I will want to knit. For now, will bide my time while doing a Vine Yoke Cardigan!
What a beautiful cardigan! I really like when people post in-progress -pictures, it somehow shows that they are enjoying knitting also as a process not only the end result.
Another beautiful feminine design. I hope that you love it enough to release it as a design because I am sure there are lots of us who would like to knit it:)
I love the new designs, specially the leaves detail, and I like the idea of sharing with the knitters the stories of them.
I’ll also love to see the sketches.
Though I can be totally patient for a pattern (this looks like a lovely one). What gets me antsy is not knowing what the yarn is. I’m always curious about that info for WIPs.
I’m so glad you’re working on a larger book! I have loved both Whimsical Little Knits books and made several things out of each. So I will be waiting verrrry patiently for the one with the sweaters in it. (= And I’m excited to see that at least one of the sweaters will be knit top-down.
I am interested in hearing your thoughts about construction – in the round vs. in pieces, bottom-up vs. top-down – and would love some finishing tips. Thanks for sharing with us!
I’m looking forward to seeing the finished article, and I’ll definitely be interested in the pattern. However, I’ve got plenty to get on with, so I’m in no rush!
Love the neckline!
One of the happy results of your self-publishing is our inside look at your design process! Yay! Someone asked whether you have an inspiration board, and I’d love to see that if you do.
Thank you for sharing – and for bucking the “experts.” You have great instincts; your fans appreciate the insight. A little “tease” never hurt anyone.
What a lovely cardigan–I’ll be waiting impatiently to see it finished!
I’d love to see how you size patterns–do larger/smaller size samples get knit up to double-check that all the numbers are right, or do you just do the calculations and edit very carefully?
Wow! Looks great. I was just thinking of incorporating a ribbing like that in a project. I guess that’s why I love your designs, you add pieces that I like and put them together in ways I only dream of doing. Don’t rush, it will definitely be worth waiting for. And thanks for sharing.
How nice!!! Of course, we would kike t do it NOW, but the good thing in knitting is that it teach you to be patient … so take your time , we’ll be waiting for you
Always excited to hear about designers’ thought processes and glad to hear I’m not the only one who needs to knit my designs myself to feel like I’ve fully wrapped my brain around the project. Looking forward to seeing what comes off those needles!
I love the cardigan! I’m heading off to my LYS to buy yarn for a spring sweater; your cardigan would be the perfect project. I’m looking forward to the pattern’s release as well as a booklet of garment patterns. Your designs are so lovely.
What a beautiful cardigan! I love watching the process of design whether they work out as originally expected or not at all. If you do a design board or a multi-media sketchbook or just piles while you’re trying to figure it out I’d love to see. If you’d be willing to share bits of it. Pretty please? I have a soft spot for journal entries, sketches, and cardigans. ;)
Thanks Ysolda!
I love hearing/seeing process stuff.
No such thing as a spoiler in my opinion, so I appreciate your willingness to share.
Love the yoke! Your work just gets better and better. Well done.
Ysolda you really are an amazing designer. I can’t wait to see what else you come up with. You never disappoint and I think we will all wait impatiently for your new designs! :)
I love that you are so generous about sharing your design process and giving sneak peeks! I would be interested sometime to learn a bit about the process of translating a pattern into different sizes, and as someone else already mentioned…. how often the yarn inspires the pattern or the other way round. This new design…. looovvee the leaves at the neckline!
it’s refreshing to see another perspective on the whole sharing-knits-before-they-are-done idea. i LOVE that you share your trials and tribulations with designs. honestly, i don’t have the time or inclination to try and figure out how to copy your idea and i would reather just pay for a lovely pattern that i know has been checked and rechecked and knit to it’s best. it’s also fun to see behind-the-scenes stuff and know what you are up to. i’m really looking forward to this bigger book and hope the process goes smoothly on. best of luck and can’t wait to see what you’ve come up with!
Looks beautiful! Thanks for a look into the process, very interesting. Can’t wait for the pattern!!!
I love hearing about your process as well as seeing sneak peaks. It inspires me to take patterns I like and add touches or shaping to make them unique. I am excited to see the finished product of that cardi, the yoke is beautiful!
Thank you so much for all of the enthusiasm, it’s certainly very motivating! I’ll be back soon to answer you questions, right now I have a sleeve to knit.
Beautiful. And, so generous of you to give us a peek and offer information about your design process. I cannot fathom trying to design my own garment; it is still a challenge for me to knit others’ designs. Still, I will be reading as you post because it is so interesting to me.
It’s beautiful! Consider my interest effectively piqued!
I think the publishers are wrong and you are right!!! Beautiful! Us knitters crave for WIPs!
Oh! That looks lovely. I’ll look forward to seeing the finished design. And I love seeing a glimpse at what goes on in the background as you’re designing. I think it’s fascinating.
I love seeing designs in progress. This looks amazing. And are those leaves in the waist shaping? LOVE!
I love to ser your in progress-work.
Hi Ysolda,
Thanks for this post – it’s great to see the work in progress. I’ve never knitted anything from the top down but I’ve heard it’s a way of ensuring a good fit. I am thinking of starting a top down cardigan, are there any good techniques you can share with us?
Jane
It’s lovely so far. I like the simplicity and the leafy shapes. Like the beauty of nature. I’m finding your patterns excellent to follow and knit from. You do a great job at it–however long it takes.
I loved seeing a bit of how the design process goes, really interesting. And the cardigan looks great, I’d love to knit it! I can’t even imagine how you gain the patience to design a pattern, with all the testing and ripping that go with it. So, I’m happy to wait patiently for your next designs, I always love them, and besides, I’m still busy working my way through WLK2 and doing a Coraline. My latest discovery is Ripley, it’s the perfect hat!
Just come to your website after reading the article in the Times, you definitely won’t be able to keep up after that!
I for one will be buying the pattern for that gorgeous cardigan
I HAVE JUST FOUND YOUR WEB SITE ( FROM THE TIMES)AND NOW WANT TO GET KNITTING , cAN’T WAIT FOR THE WEEKEND TO RUSH BY AND TO GET THE PATTERN. WHERE DO I BUY THE WOOL.?
Hello! Long-time blog reader, I just came back to say I read the lovely little article on you in the Times. Congrats on all your success! Lots of new fans flocking here!
Dear Ysolda,
it´s great to read that there will be another book in the future! I really love your designs!
My question: Where do you get your inspiration for a design? Friends, yarn, a book, nature?
Happy knitting
Theresia
I love the design and the yarn. A couple of things I’d be interested in reading about in re: design process are:
1) What determines your final yarn choice? While it’s great to consider substitute yarns when knitting from a pattern, it would be educational to know what aspects of the yarn made the design work for you, e.g., type of fiber (blend), ply, color, how it knits up in the stitch pattern, drape, etc.
2) What determines the project’s construction? What are the thoughts/reasons behind the type of sleeve shaping, hem, decreases, seaming vs. seamless, etc.
Best wishes on your continued self-publishing and thank you for sharing the experience with us!
Gorgeous work!! Thank you so much for sharing with us! I do have a question: Do you design your own cable (like that beautiful leaf-shaped motif with the 6 yarnovers in it) or do you use a cable from a book and build your design around that. What are your favorite sources?
It’s so helpful & encouraging. I’m pretty new to this process and the enormity of a project can be quite daunting, at times. But seeing your process helps to remind me to just keep putting one ‘needle’ in front of the other. Dory from “Nemo” would say ‘just keep knitting…just keep knitting…’.
Congratulations for “The Times” interview.
It’s about time people realised knitting was not just for us Grandmas.
I can see what you say about showing knitting in progress that may not ever make it to the pattern stage – but I would love to see some if the things that inspire you and feed into your design process.
It looks lovely so far.
And congratulations on the lovely article in The Times!
This looks great. I really don’t know how you manage to design so many patterns in what, to me, seems like such a short time! I can’t even knit to keep up! Really looking forward to your next book though. And i agree, a bit about your inspiration and processes would be really interesting.
I already told you this on flickr, but the design you’re showing us here is so, so gorgeous! I love that you’re giving us a preview…I much prefer to see what you’re up to, and just be patient, than to see nothing until it’s completely finished.
Ooo that’s my favourite so far! I love to see design progress updates! It’s really interesting to see the stages come together, the images/details are beautiful in their own right and the possibility of a pattern at the end of it just adds to the special treat factor at the end. After not allowing myself to knit for six months while I’ve barrelled like a freight train towards the deadline at the end of my thesis I’ve become a Master of delayed gratification instead of Architecture :)
I love the look of the details in this – the way the leaves are nestled into the plain knitting and the shaping of the neckline especially. It would be really neat to hear about the sleeve – body connection or the way you notate your changes as you work and rework the pattern. I admit I love the working process just about as much as the cohesiveness of all of the pattern elements in your final designs. Thanks for the peak!
Thanks for the great blog post. I want this sweater. I will wait patiently for it. I love this cardigan already. :)
Hi
Just wanted to say that I think your stance is absolutely the right one. Firstly because keeping an active blog helps, and showing what’s coming definitely helps build momentum. Preventing ‘previewing’ becoming marketing suicide and instead helping you with future sales is achieved in exactly the way you have here; by creative photographing.
Unfortunately there will always be those who want the pattern now now now, but hopefully the greater number will appreciate the time taken into designing a garment. Even though I’m not a designer and will never be one, just knitting your garments has definitely helped me appreciate what goes into the design process.
Also an idea; for your book in progress, I would be really interested to read an essay/article about how you got into designing, what inspired you and what taught you etc.
Hi Ysolda,
I love this garment, especially the leaves around the yoke/neckline. I’ve only been knitting for a year and am halfway through my first jumper, but this would be next on my list as I’d like to have a go at knitting something from the top down. Your cardigan is looking great so far.
I always enjoy reading your blog and look forward to the finished garment/pattern. All the best.
Michelle
Somerset, UK.
I love the intricate leaf design around the neck and the sleeves’ shape is eloquent. I have always wondered how a designer goes through the process of creating and I have been enlightened by your blog. It is my Sunday morning ritual, my three boys are playing wildly in the background, I grab a cup of coffee and I read your blog-it encourages my inner muse and then I eagerly grab my needles and knit until the church bells call. Thank you for sharing what you do, and I am so excited to see that you are working on another book (I love the whimsical little knits!)! I can’t wait (I’ll be patient, though)!
It’s looking lovely, and I hope it does work out! Looks like beautiful yarn as well.
Gorgeous, just gorgeous! Will wait patiently for this! And very much looking forward to your book.
Hey Girl!! You’ve got to write a post with a link to the Times article! I only ran across it because I’m in the “Designers” group in Ravelry. I know you’re not one to “toot your own horn” but this is very exciting indeed for all your adoring fans! Well done!!
That is such a pretty neckline (and how do you do all these cute hair styles?) :)
Hi,
I’m looking forward to that new book.
My boy-friend dicovered you in the times:
http://women.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/women/fashion/article7043321.ece
Good stuff!
Eva
The blue cardigan already looks great. Can not wait for the final. It is wonderful to follow your works.
Annegret
Gorgeous design! Can you tell us what colour of Manos you have used?
I’m getting very paranoid about what you can and what you acn’t do online in your blog. So I thought I throw these few questions here to get the conversation going.
What I wanted to do was blog about Coraline-cardigan and the quest to find the yarn for it from my country. But, blog is no good without photos. I must admit, earlier I’ve taken pictures from yarn companies, designers and Flckr-accounts to decorate my posts. But now I am hesitating. Although I do link back and am somewhat careful to point out that they’res not my pictures I rarely really ASK to use them… Because it’s publicity, isn’t it?
But am I actually just being really rude and stealing pictures?
ONe of the reasons, I love your designs is that you take the time to make sure they fit and work out. The attention to details is why all of us are willing to wait for the designs. There are some designers out there who are well known but I don’t like their patterns because they seem to crank them out week after week. The design process takes time. As does the pattern writing process. I am a test knitter for a designer and while I often see the pattern in the rough outline, I know that it has already been knit up a few times. She is looking for us to make sure it works and find any errors that she may have missed.
I love the detail in the sweater in process. And chance you will share what yarn you are using? I love the color and the subtle shades in it. I need to pick out my next sweater project.
I have looked at your designs and they are really lovely – but please can you design for older ladies?
Looks awesome, Ysolda! Congratulations on your next endeavor and best of luck, it is going to be gorgeous!
Beautiful, beautiful! I love the details at the neck! The sleeve details from the next post are lovely as well! Great job Ysolda! It’s hard to be patient, but I love seeing the design process!
Ooh! Simultaneous set in sleeves! You rock! Cannot wait to see this one! :D
This post so describes me! Great post and pics! Loving your blog!
Again, it looks like a GREAT pattern, I’m already very fond of it, and I’m sure it’s really worth waiting for it… (but not too long !). Good luck !
Hi Ysolda,
I’ve not been knitting for long but my wife and I are knitting for the grandchildren. I saw the aricle about you in the Times and your work is fantastic. My wife is a fantastic knitter and I would love to have the pattern for the blue sweater with the leaf patters on the sleeve. If it’s not too difficult I’d like to knit this for my wife as a suprise. Is the pattern available yet? Thank you for your inspiring work.
Dan Walter
So talented! I love your work!
What a beautiful neckline! And I love the detail on the sleeve. This is going to be a great sweater–and very versatile, too!
love your designs and I’ve been getting tons of compliments on the small Ishbel shawl I made for myself.
So, are you drying your hair in preparation for curls using pins? I mean it looks cute even pinned up. but I am curious how you get your curly hair. Please forgive my stupid american-ness.
Oooooo gorgeous yarn – manos silk, I love the colour blue grey is my absolute favourite. I will wait with eager anticipation for the new book – stave off desperation by knitting something else is the mean time (a vivian? a vine yoke? coraline? or maybe liesl for the 3rd time!)
Beautiful!
I’ve designed socks, mittens, hats, and other little somethings (like a bacterium for my microbiology-student brother), but I don’t know how to take the image I have in my head for a sweater collar or neckline and then make it happen. I can do the body–just not the collar. It always fails. How do you judge depth? How do you start when you’re not doing a “crew neck” or “v-neck” sweater?
Love this leaf design – very contemporary looking lacework – and I love how it extends out of the rib too. I really enjoy seeing snippets of your design process and studio, and look forward to more, if possible. This kind of accessibility is part of what makes indie designers popular. The yarn colour is absolutely amazing too.
it looks beautiful !
Will you be using test knitters to work out any problems in your pattern writting or sizing?
It’s very cute!
It’s great and inspiring to read your design process. I would love to read more about pattern writing, grading and charting that goes into your designs.